We Say…
Based out of Portland, Oregon, NONBINARY GIRLFRIEND variously describe their music as, “an opera of feelings” and “medicinal soundscape”. Back in February, they released the excellent mini-album, BIG AND KIND. The subsequent months have been something of a whirlwind as they were voted the best new band in Portland, recorded a session for KEXP and this month will head out on what is only their second-ever tour.
NONBINARY GIRLFRIEND’s rapid rise is a just reward for the excellence of BIG AND KIND, a remarkable collection of bad days, inner kindness and the importance of taking up space. The band are fronted by songwriter Anaïs and their remarkable vocal, a swooping siren shriek, like the middle ground of Siouxsie Sioux and Black Belt Eagle Scouts’ Katherine Paul. The record starts with the title track, it’s something of a statement piece, a band manifesto set to rapid-fire drums and driving guitar rhythms, as Anaïs sings of the strength to be found in kindness, “being kind is not the same as being small, sometimes, many times kindness requires you to be big and tall”. Elsewhere, No Face briefly turns down the velocity and turns up the twinkling majesty of the omnichord as it slides thematically into the realm of the monsters lurking in our own heads, while I Tried To Who Forget Who I Was explores a folk-influence as it recalls the likes of Haley Heynderickx or Weyes Blood. Particularly wonderful is the grungy repetition of Worst Day, a song that seems to almost take solace in the lowest low, nodding to the likes of Girlpool or Best Coast as atop a racing bass line they repeatedly sing, “this has been the worst moment of my life, so far, I think I’m done here”, before the whole thing breaks down to a sombre atmospheric close. The ambition throughout the record is impressive, and never more so than on the closing track, Body, a seven-minute plus melding of the smooth and the scuzzy. For two minutes we’re treated to Neil Young-like guitar wailing meeting arresting blasts of static, giving the whole thing a visceral, lurching quality, before it suddenly stops, drawing you in close to check the track is even still going, before layer-upon-layer it rebuilds to a driving and dynamic close. An intriguing introduction, BIG AND KIND is a record that’s excellent as it is, and yet more than that feels like it hints at even better things to come, NONBINARY GIRLFRIEND don’t sound like they’re going to be settling down anytime soon.
They Say…
FTR: For those who don’t know who are NONBINARY GIRLFRIEND?
NBGF is a PDX indie punk band dedicated to spreading bigness and kindness!!
FTR: What can you remember about your first show?
My first show at NBGF I mostly remember how isolating it felt performing alone when I am used to being part of a band. it really motivated me like wow, I gotta get more people involved!
FTR: Why do you make music? Why not another art form?
Music is the art that just flows out of me. songs, poems, melodies. It’s just natural, all I have to do is capture it. other forms of art for me are more effortful and less gratifying. It’s always been a way for me to process emotions. after a while, it dawned on me that maybe people going thru similar things would feel seen if they could hear my songs.
FTR: What can people expect from the NONBINARY GIRLFRIEND live show?
Expect to FEEL something. part of the performance is the emotion! when I am performing my songs, I am transported back to those moments that led me to write them, and I’m taking the audience with me. expect to feel pain and sadness. expect to maybe even cry. and always expect to come out more powerful and more loved and more healed than when you went in.
FTR: What’s next for NONBINARY GIRLFRIEND?
We recently were voted BEST NEW BAND in PDX, and recorded a live session with KEXP! next up we are going on our second tour this October down to LA! After that, we will hopefully have some time for needed rest and brewing up our next release!
They Listen To…
Indigo De Souza – Take Off Ur Pants
Julia Jacklin – Body
Mitski – I Don’t Smoke
Angel Olsen – Unfucktheworld
Sasami – I Was A Window
BIG AND KIND is out now. For more information on Nonbinary Girlfriend visit https://bio.link/nonbinarygirlfriend/.
For The Rabbits 